just that she was never into breaking rules and thus was never required to spend time in the company of the opposite sex.
Even Mr. Anderson and Mr. Denise, working in the Home’s management and finance department, kept their direct interaction with the girls brief.
Oh, why her first time talking to a boy at such close quarters had to be with one so good looking?!
Nerves wracking, she watched him coming closer. Shouldn’t he stop now? When he did, it was still a tad too close. Why was she breathing weird? Would he ask to shake hands with her?
Oh, God, her hands were cold as Ice! Please don’t shake hands with me.
Those beautiful big blue eyes of his were frowning at her.
Did she smell? Couldn’t be.
Female vanity insisted she lower her chin and, surreptitiously, give herself a good sniff.
In the process of ducking her head and doing just that, she heard him say, “I’m Trevor McBain.”
Trevor, a name with an edge and hint of authority in it. And all of it was depicted in the hard angles of his face.
Elaine gave a nervous crack of a smile in acknowledgement.
“Does that tongue in your mouth do its job, or is it just for keeping things wet in there?”
Elaine coloured at her gaffe. What a bumpkin he must think her. “Y..Yes, my name’s.. uhm.. it’s..” She forgot her name!
All was blank. She was boring a hole in his black polo shirt looking for some clue that would trigger her name.
“Would you by any chance speak this millennium-”
Any ..A..E..El.. “Elaine! Elaine!” That’s it! Her hands smacked together in joy and excitement of having answered.
“Don’t have to shout it out.” Recovering from her too enthusiastic, loud clap, he scoffed. “But, why name yourself Elaine twice? Afraid no one will believe you’re a girl under all the rag you have on?” A dark, mean brow arched, mocking her.
Elaine didn’t like it. And liked it even less when he snorted. She was trying so hard to be friends, and he was being mean to her for no reason.
“Have you ever laid eyes on a thing called comb , Elaine?”
That did it. Steel filled her spine. Trevor McBain might be the handsomest boy she had ever met, but that didn’t mean Elaine had given him the right to treat her so insultingly.
“With as much surprise as it may come to you, yeah, I’ve seen combs. I even own one. It’s in my bag,” she indicated a rough duffel bag lying at her feet. “Along with everything else I own.”
Elaine gave him a wry curve of her mouth that did not–by any shot–pass for a smile. “And you wanna know something else? Everything that I own has come from every little dime I have earned with my hard work .”
Let the pretty prince grind his teeth on that.
So only half of the bag’s contents were earned from her sweat, rest was goodwill charity for which she was ever thankful. But she did earn her keep at the orphanage. Girls who wanted to work could lend hands in making quilts, cards, candles, key-chains, all of which the Home later sold to bring in additional financial aid.
The razor fine lines of his jaws hardened. His smug conceit having been lambasted, he glared at her openly. Trevor was no longer trying to hide his dislike of her. And his next snide revealed his true perception of her.
“You are the trash inside, you look on the out.”
This wasn’t the first time Elaine heard herself called that. But for some inexplicable reason, coming from him it ripped her the worst–having her question herself if there weren’t some truth in it?
Did not knowing who her parents are made her less than others?
And for instilling such doubts in her, Elaine detested Trevor McBain.
Although oddly, she utterly disliked detesting him. If only he apologised, things could start anew. She had wanted so much to be his friend.
Chin high, Elaine waited, giving him ample time to ask for her forgiveness.
But looking his lofty eye down on the trash, he strutted his way out.
*****
CHAPTER 7
A Y ear L ater..
E
Even Mr. Anderson and Mr. Denise, working in the Home’s management and finance department, kept their direct interaction with the girls brief.
Oh, why her first time talking to a boy at such close quarters had to be with one so good looking?!
Nerves wracking, she watched him coming closer. Shouldn’t he stop now? When he did, it was still a tad too close. Why was she breathing weird? Would he ask to shake hands with her?
Oh, God, her hands were cold as Ice! Please don’t shake hands with me.
Those beautiful big blue eyes of his were frowning at her.
Did she smell? Couldn’t be.
Female vanity insisted she lower her chin and, surreptitiously, give herself a good sniff.
In the process of ducking her head and doing just that, she heard him say, “I’m Trevor McBain.”
Trevor, a name with an edge and hint of authority in it. And all of it was depicted in the hard angles of his face.
Elaine gave a nervous crack of a smile in acknowledgement.
“Does that tongue in your mouth do its job, or is it just for keeping things wet in there?”
Elaine coloured at her gaffe. What a bumpkin he must think her. “Y..Yes, my name’s.. uhm.. it’s..” She forgot her name!
All was blank. She was boring a hole in his black polo shirt looking for some clue that would trigger her name.
“Would you by any chance speak this millennium-”
Any ..A..E..El.. “Elaine! Elaine!” That’s it! Her hands smacked together in joy and excitement of having answered.
“Don’t have to shout it out.” Recovering from her too enthusiastic, loud clap, he scoffed. “But, why name yourself Elaine twice? Afraid no one will believe you’re a girl under all the rag you have on?” A dark, mean brow arched, mocking her.
Elaine didn’t like it. And liked it even less when he snorted. She was trying so hard to be friends, and he was being mean to her for no reason.
“Have you ever laid eyes on a thing called comb , Elaine?”
That did it. Steel filled her spine. Trevor McBain might be the handsomest boy she had ever met, but that didn’t mean Elaine had given him the right to treat her so insultingly.
“With as much surprise as it may come to you, yeah, I’ve seen combs. I even own one. It’s in my bag,” she indicated a rough duffel bag lying at her feet. “Along with everything else I own.”
Elaine gave him a wry curve of her mouth that did not–by any shot–pass for a smile. “And you wanna know something else? Everything that I own has come from every little dime I have earned with my hard work .”
Let the pretty prince grind his teeth on that.
So only half of the bag’s contents were earned from her sweat, rest was goodwill charity for which she was ever thankful. But she did earn her keep at the orphanage. Girls who wanted to work could lend hands in making quilts, cards, candles, key-chains, all of which the Home later sold to bring in additional financial aid.
The razor fine lines of his jaws hardened. His smug conceit having been lambasted, he glared at her openly. Trevor was no longer trying to hide his dislike of her. And his next snide revealed his true perception of her.
“You are the trash inside, you look on the out.”
This wasn’t the first time Elaine heard herself called that. But for some inexplicable reason, coming from him it ripped her the worst–having her question herself if there weren’t some truth in it?
Did not knowing who her parents are made her less than others?
And for instilling such doubts in her, Elaine detested Trevor McBain.
Although oddly, she utterly disliked detesting him. If only he apologised, things could start anew. She had wanted so much to be his friend.
Chin high, Elaine waited, giving him ample time to ask for her forgiveness.
But looking his lofty eye down on the trash, he strutted his way out.
*****
CHAPTER 7
A Y ear L ater..
E
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